Dhaka, March 25 A bus carrying at least 40 people plunged into a river in Bangladesh on Wednesday as it attempted to board a transport ferry, with officials saying that many passengers are suspected to be missing.
The accident occurred in southwestern Rajbari at the Dauladia terminal when the bus fell into the Padma River at approximately 5:15 pm, officials said.
"According to our initial information, the bus, which was heading to Dhaka, was carrying 40 passengers when it plunged into the river while attempting to board a ferry at the (Dauladia) terminal," a police official at the scene told reporters.
Daulatdia River Police Outpost's officer in charge Trinath Saha added that some passengers managed to swim to shore or were rescued, but most others remained missing as a search and rescue operation was launched. He did not provide any specific numbers.
Ferry terminal officials and witnesses said that the bus fell into the Padma River at approximately 5:15 pm.
"When the bus was approaching the ferry from the pier, another smaller utility ferry collided with the pier. The bus driver lost control of the steering and the bus plunged into the river," said the terminal supervisor, Monir Hossain.
Fire service divers immediately launched a rescue operation, and a salvage vessel also arrived at the scene later.
Rajbari Fire Service official Dewan Sohel Rana said that more divers were called out from two other terminals on the other side of the river, even as television reports said that rescue teams were also dispatched from Dhaka.
